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1997 BMW 528I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 BMW 528I do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 46.

About this comparison →
41Owner complaints

Model-year median: 46

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
41
199733
199846
199942
2000
Compare all 528I years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Suspension
12Air Bags
5Power Train
5Engine And Engine Cooling
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
All reported categories
Structure
3Unknown Or Other
3Electrical System
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Exterior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Air
1Steering
1Tires
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 41 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Suspension complaints

12 reports
Clear category filter
112,520 miles · May 19, 2003
Suspension

THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT STRUT HAS FAILED. THE STRUT HAS BROKEN HALF WAY AND APPEARS THAT IT JUST A MATTER OF TIME OR A BUMP BEFORE THE ENTIRE PIECE BREAKS OFF. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CONTROL WILL BE LOST. A FEW MONTHS AGO I REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT BECAUSE THAT STRUT SPRING BASE FAILED, AT THE TIME I CONS…

Read full complaint

THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT STRUT HAS FAILED. THE STRUT HAS BROKEN HALF WAY AND APPEARS THAT IT JUST A MATTER OF TIME OR A BUMP BEFORE THE ENTIRE PIECE BREAKS OFF. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CONTROL WILL BE LOST. A FEW MONTHS AGO I REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT BECAUSE THAT STRUT SPRING BASE FAILED, AT THE TIME I CONSIDERED A FREAK OCCURRENCE AND JUST REPLACED THE STRUT. NOW THAT THE OTHER STRUT IS FAILING I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SINCE I NEED MY CAR TO TRAVEL TO WORK AND I AM PLANNING ON TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER TOMORROW. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10018900

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1998
Suspension

DURING MINIMAL IMPACT OF SIDEWALL TIRE WHICH SLICED, LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ODI #534390

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.